Ukraine: Zelensky visits London amid corruption scandal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spent December 8 in London with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany.

The gathering was intended to signal Europe’s continued backing for Ukraine at what they described as a “critical moment” for the U.S. initiative to halt Russia’s invasion, according to the Associated Press. The stakes of the visit rose as a widening corruption probe in Kyiv eroded confidence in Zelensky and his senior circle.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to 10 Downing Street for discussions focused on reinforcing Ukraine’s position as impatience grows in Washington, especially from President Donald Trump.

Following their talks, the leaders jointly appealed to Ukraine’s partners across Europe to maintain pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A statement from Starmer’s office noted, “The leaders all agreed that now is a critical moment and that we must continue to ramp up support to Ukraine and economic pressure on Putin to bring an end to this barbaric war.”

Starmer’s spokesman, Tom Wells, added that “intensive work” would continue and acknowledged there were still unresolved questions.

Russia carried out one of its most extensive overnight missile and drone strikes of the conflict on December 6, underscoring the urgency felt by Kyiv and its allies.

Zelensky is also under pressure at home as a corruption probe shakes his senior ranks. The investigation forced the resignation of Andriy Yermak, his powerful chief of staff, long seen as one of the most influential figures in Kyiv. Known as the “green cardinal,” Yermak had been viewed by some as a virtual co-president. His exit over an alleged $100 million scheme has emboldened opposition calls for a unity government and raised questions about Zelensky’s concentrated governing style at a moment of heavy military and diplomatic strain.

Moreover, tensions with Washington were evident after Trump complained that Zelensky “hasn’t yet read the proposal.” Zelensky said talks with U.S. envoys on a possible peace plan were “constructive, although not easy,” adding that “American representatives know the basic Ukrainian positions,” as consultations continue. He also responded that Trump “certainly wants to end the war” but emphasised that Ukrainians understand the realities of the conflict more deeply because “this is our motherland.”

Before the meeting, Starmer, Macron and Merz underscored their support for Kyiv. Starmer described the talks as being at a “critical stage” and stressed the need for “a just and lasting ceasefire.” Merz voiced concern over parts of the U.S. documents, saying, “We have to talk about it. That’s why we are here.”

At Downing Street he noted that Ukraine requires assistance from both sides of the Atlantic because “there are some things we can’t manage without the Americans, things which we can’t manage without Europe.” His comments underscored an increasingly stark reality for Kyiv, which remains deeply dependent on continued U.S. military, financial and political backing. With the war ongoing and negotiations in flux, Ukraine’s ability to hold its ground still rests heavily on decisions made in Washington.

Associated Press, Maghrebi, Politico, Arab News via AFP, Council on Foreign Relations